Throwback Thanksgiving Week

It has been so great to be home.  I love seeing old friends and just catching up.  When I'm at school it's easy to only look toward the future and what will come next.  This week I was reminded of the people and places that helped me discover myself, find Christ, and taught me how to love. I got a new camera! But haven't used it yet so... I think I'm going to use some old pictures.

1. The Light Mass. Saturday after I got home it was my lucky day and I got to go to the mass planned by teens at St. Charles.  I love going back and seeing something I helped to begin, grow.  Growing up at St. Charles and at the DOCK has helped me learn the power of loving people well.  The power of serving others, and how to challenge what I believe. I got to hang out with Heather and Caleb on Monday too.  They are the best, I'm always learning from Heather and am so thankful for her.  She is such a great mom, and can't wait to continue to live life with her.

2. Amy and I road tripped up to see Amanda.  I miss talking to Amy.  She taught me what it means to be accountable to other people.  To care about others struggles and that sometimes we need to just be good listeners.  I loved getting to be in the car with her for five hours.  It was so good to see Amanda, when I'm with her it feels like home.  She has taught me what it means to be real, no matter how hard it is.  I love these two so much.

3. Monday night I was on my way home from dinner with Laura (so great), and found it too easy to stop by Fairmont's Young Life club. Young life has taught me what it means to love Jesus. I stayed for club and it is amazing how God is working at Fairmont.  It was once again my lucky day and Collette was giving the cross talk.  I was just reminded of how much God truly loves me and how blessed I was to be involved with such a great ministry and God-filled people. On Wednesday I got to catch up with some YL FHS Alum, they're awesome and encouraging and always know how to have a good time.

4. On Tuesday I went up to Fairmont High School with Laura.  I use to think it was super lame when alum came back, but I just can't stay away from the teachers.  That place taught me the true meaning of learning, working hard, honesty, and what I wanted to do with my life.  The teachers there care so much about students it unbelievable.  They helped me figure out what I wanted to do with my life and what I didn't.  I'm so thankful that I could spend a few hours catching up with them. Mr. Mitter, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Kurtz, The Ves, Mr. Runyon, Mrs. Borchers, Mr. Buyer.  They have all cared and taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I am so thankful.

5.  I went to turkey practice.  Fairmont swimming is a strange thing, they might have new coaches, but it's still the same team. It was there where I learned what it really means to be on a team.  I learned the power of encouragement and that being the best doesn't mean you are the most essential to the team.  I loved catching up with the swimmers, and got a work out in. (say what?!). And I really loved getting to see Katy Barber, I NEVER see her, and she always can make me laugh. I also got to hang out at the KRC a bit it's a crazy place,  but has helped me grow and know how to respond in emergencies.

6.  Thanksgiving day dinner with friends.  It's now an annual tradition, and although we had 3 kinds of potatoes, brownies, corn casserole, and sausage balls, it was a great meal and so great to catch up with old friends. 

7. Fun night at Jackson;s.  The whole group was together again (minus Can and her wisdom teeth), we don't even have to do anything and we have some good laughs.  The boys are crazy and I love them dearly.  They have taught me how to be patient and that boys are WAY different then girls, and I'm really thankful for them.

8. Thanksgiving! My family has the tradition of not spending thanksgiving with family.  We celebrated with the Weissman's across the street.  I have grown up with them and feel like they are just an extension of my family.  I have been so blessed to live in a neighborhood full of people who care about each other.

9. My four best friends.  I got to have breakfast with them on Friday. Can, Laur, and Han.  Getting to hear about their lives is such a blessing.  They've taught me what it means to be a good friend and  how to love sacrificially.  I feel so good when I'm with them, they give the best advice and we just love each other well.

10. My high school bible study.  These girls and I have learned so much together and have grown so much together. They taught me what it means to be committed to your friends.  I feel like I can ask them questions I can't ask anyone else.  They know how I feel and tell me what I need to hear not necessarily what I want to. Great and much needed sleepover.

I am blessed beyond belief.  God has reminded me this week who I am and all the people that support me. I can't wait to head off to Butler with these people fresh in my mind. I am blessed, God is good, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for all of us.  This is real life. 

I lost my camera...

It was not until after I left my camera at the movie theater last Thursday night that I realized how much I love taking pictures and documenting what is going on all around me.  But that's just real life... our material things that we grow so fond of that we think we can't live without disappear, and we get closer to realizing that our hope in Christ is the only thing that is truly eternal.


That being said I was especially sad that my camera disappeared that night because I documented an awesome night at the Young Life banquet.  We had a fake wedding, played some games, got our spirit animals, ate pizza, and talked about how God is using Young Life to change lives.  So great.

That Young Life banquet and this North Face shoe box  reminded me last weekend of the importance of exploring.  There is SO much in this beautiful world to explore whether it is nature, new restaurants, the Bible, an idea, or people's lives.  Life is worth not settling for the usual, and the norm. God created a world that was meant to be explored.  This week was definitely full of exploring.  It all started Saturday morning..

Tony, Eshan, and I chased Mark down all over Indy to cheer him on during his marathon (he is an AMAZING runner.. learn something new everyday).  I thought it would only be about a twenty minute venture after he passed through Butler, but instead we decided to weave our way around the city to find him. It was raining and sleeting, but seriously so much fun.  Turns out Mark's whole family ran the marathon with him! How cool is that?! They were so inspiring and wonderful to hang out with.  I've never watched a marathon and was truly amazed by the audacity of the people to run 26 miles.  Crazy.  At least they get foil and grey hats at the end...

My fam also came up for 24 hours.  I love them so much and so blessed to have them in my life. They always know just what I need to feel at home. I got news on Monday Drew made the 7th grade basketball team... SO EXCITED FOR HIM!

Monday night we made journals at Campaigners.  I LOVE crafts.  It was so great just to sit and learn about what each other loves and dig deeper into our lives.  I'm so excited to continue to explore life with these girls. And I'm just really glad that they love crafts too. 

Tuesday night was our YL Clubble Rave! Young Life is just a great place to explore.  I never knew I could have so much fun in a bubble. Mark told us about his life and the importance of choosing joy and then we rocked out like it was 1985.  Seriously, such a great night of laughing, dancing, and new experiences.

I've spent the past two afternoons trying to explore with the kids at Kaleidoscope.  They love discovering new information or games or crafts or dance moves.  They've been showing me their dance skills and I've been teaching them how to make friendship bracelets. Seriously, the coolest kids in town.

Yesterday was Emma's and Kelsey's birthday and I just love birthday's at Butler, so I had to give them a shout out.  I'm so blessed to have them both in my life.  I loved getting to celebrate (especially flying cupcakes with Emma and Erika).

Today though, was just such a great day.  After the dreaded Anatomy exam, we had roomie bonding. This has been planned for weeks, we ended up at a pretty sketchy movie theater, all to ourselves I might add, watching "Here Comes the Boom". It was amazing, we laughed, we cried, it was just great a great movie, highly recommended.  Afterwards we wanted to get some dinner and decided we needed to go somewhere new.  It's been on my bucket list to go to SoBro cafe, so that's where we ended up!  In case you were wondering, it was awesome and we made a suitemate bucket list for the rest of the year to make sure we continue to explore Indy.

Little did Kara know... there was a surprise (early) birthday party awaiting her back at Resco.  I love surprises.  Seriously though, she was in complete shock.  It was so fun getting the whole gang back together and just getting to be with each other.  It was exactly what we all needed..

So... I lost my camera. Sorry if I stole any of your pictures, the blog was in desperate need.  I love the  true life that God has set before us.  To explore the amazing things around us.  To not settle into the norm that is so easy to go along with. To find Him in the people and places that are right in front of our noses.  To discover the eternal hope that is only found in Him. That's real life.

Surprise!

 Here is a quick minute catch up on my life the past few weeks:

I went home for fall break a couple weeks ago.  I'm so blessed to have the friends and family I do.  It was a crazy time and I got very little homework done, but it was definitely a blast. My favorite story from fall break, was on Thursday when a friend called me who was on her way to Georgia and asked if I could break into her house and start driving towards Cincinnati and bring her what she forgot.  So I called Tyler and we went on a road trip.  We even got to stop and see Ben at UC.  I love being spontaneous and going on unexpected adventures.  I also love having free time to watch God's plan unfold.

Last weekend I got to hang out with some of my Young Life team. Man do I love them... I am so blessed to have their love and wisdom in my life.  I also finally got to see Mark and Tony's "apartment".  Those two always make me laugh so hard and it is seriously a joy to get see them around Butler.

Last weekend was homecoming at Butler, always a good time.  Then we went over to Linda's for a bonfire and played mafia and the game of snaps. I love the Nikcevich home. It's such a welcoming place, and feels like my home away from home.  Erika and I  are in a prank war with John and Elliott. It's getting pretty intense; but super fun.  I get locked out of my room a lot.

It was Grandparent's Day Club at Young Life this week.  My night started off with a dead car, but ended  with a hilarious Goodwill trip, and getting to hangout with these awesome girls.

Speaking of my car... it has died twice this week.  Poor Stan... I could tell fixing him would involve an adventure.   On Friday Erika, Elliott, Ben and I took the car to Auto Zone for a new battery! Definitely not in my plans this week, but I feel like I know a lot more about cars!

This weekend was also the Freshman Mystery Trip.  I've realized more than ever this weekend, that I actually love surprises.  I love when things you never expect to happen, happen.  This weekend we went to young life camp.  Only for 12 hours, but we were there.  There is something about camp, the air is cleaner, and everything is just more fun.  We started with an Instagram scavenger hunt. I think we literally shut it down. SO many awesome pictures. 

The whole day was just one giant surprise.  During free time we played lots of fun camp games, did our fair share of shopping, octoball, and fooseball. For dinner we went we had BIG cookie (I mean that was dessert, but all I really remember).  A camp classic, and such a fun treat.  We had a crazy club, and went night timberkarting. And ended with a glow stick rave.

If God taught me one thing yesterday it's that He loves surprises too.  Our plan for our life is usually different than His, and when we let His will work in our lives, we will definitely be surprised by how He works. God's unceasing love never fails to surprise me.  How could a God so great, love a sinner like me?  It's truly amazing.  I am so blessed that God had such a big, beautiful, surprising plan for me this weekend.  I got to hang out with a lot of wonderful friends (new and old), in a beautiful place.